South Africa showed their capabilities in the opening match of the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup when they defeated USA by 18 runs here on Wednesday.

Quinton de Kock’s quickfire 74 off 40 balls provided the impetus as South Africa set USA a daunting 195-run target. They never looked to be in the chase and regular fall of wickets dented their hopes.

At 76/5 in the 12th over, USA looked to be fighting a lost cause but opener Andries Gous and Harmeet Singh put on a 91-run stand off 43 balls for the sixth wicket to revive their hopes.

USA needed 28 off the last two overs and Harmeet was caught in the deep off the first delivery of the 19th over for 38 off 22 balls. Kagiso Rabada (3/18) gave away only two runs in that over and South Africa never looked back.

Gous remained unbeaten on 80 off 47 balls with five boundaries and as many sixes.

On a pitch expected to be slow and spin-friendly, De Kock defied odds to put the USA bowlers to the sword while bringing up his maiden fifty in the tournament.

De Kock’s fireworks at the top and skipper Aiden Markram’s fluent 46 also helped South Africa banish their top-order woes after the frontline batters had flopped collectively in the group stage.

Towards the end, Heinrich Klaasen (36 not out) and Tristan Stubbs (20 not out) added 53 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand in just five overs.

De Kock led South Africa’s charge following a meek start and added 110 runs in 60 balls for the second wicket with Markram.

This was after Reeza Hendricks mishit a slower one from Saurabh Netravalkar to be caught by Corey Anderson.

De Kock then took the attack to the opposition. He cashed in every time the USA bowlers erred in length, bringing up his fifty off 26 balls.

Brief scores: SA 194/4 (Quinton de Kock 74, Aiden Markram 46, Henrich Klaasen 36 not out). USA 176/6 (Andries Gous 80 n.o., Harmeet Singh 38; Kagiso Rabada 3/18). SA won by 18 runs.

Written with PTI inputs